More than 300 people, some locals, earn their livelihood by being engaged in dumpster diving at Banchare Danda dumping site or simply put – looking for treasure in someone else’s trash.

A couple, Sanu Sedhai and Sita Sedhai who are residents of Kakani, Nuwakot, earn their livelihoods by collecting items from the dumping site that are worth selling. The couple, together, gathers more around 80-90 kgs of waste to sell it to contractors.

Although not formally employed, they visit the dumping site on a daily basis and collect any item worth selling to a contractor who buys such collection from them offering 8-10 rupees per kg, as per the utility of the items.

“We don’t like doing this and the amount is barely enough for feeding ourselves and educating our kids but for villagers like us, with no land for farming or other means of income, it is our only way to make ends meet,” said Sita.